Ramius Killed Political Officer Putin Last Night in VA-7

Over on Facebook where I'm a newbie, Brad referred to Eric Cantor as the one time "zampolit" who kept Boehner in line, and how it was somehow fitting that Cantor would lose to a Tea Party challenger.

When I read the word zampolit, the first thing I thought of was of Political Officer Putin, who was similarly taken by a rouge agent, who then changed the standard orders.

The Tea Party is burning the orders from Moscow.

I think my attempt at humor works quite poetically, as Ramius killed Putin, and then covers it up by claiming he slipped on some....tea.

Watch out for that tea, Eric.

Everything always comes back to The Hunt For Red October.

SC GOP Primary Is Boring AND ERIC CANTOR LOSES??

Eric Cantor, please call your office.

It looks like Lindsey Graham will remain our Senator. There were some good challengers, and there were some not so good challengers. Hopefully, we can send Senator Graham back to Washington with a sense of renewed purpose.

In other news, Eric Cantor (the House Majority Leader) just lost his primary to a Tea Party challenger from his right, over what appears to be the illegal immigration issue.

This is a pretty big deal, y'all. I think this probably means that any big legislation on immigration is dead. I don't see any politicians sticking their head in the noose after they just saw what happened to Cantor tonight.

How does the saying go, some times you have to hang a few generals so that something something?

My First Look at Det Bowers for US Senate

My firm hosted a short meeting with Det Bowers, who has tossed his hat into the ring in the GOP race to unseat Senator Graham.

[Full disclosure: I know the Bowers family personally. I'm about the same age as his two older sons, and I have known him and his family growing up. He was also one of the ministers at my church for awhile.]

[Second full disclosure: I was only able to stay for the first thirty minutes, as I had a court hearing to attend. Accordingly, I missed about half of the discussion.]

Having said that, coming into today's meeting I didn't know anything about Det's political opinions, so I was interested to see what his motivation for running would be, and what his intentions were. My biggest concern was that he was running "to make a statement" rather than to actually win. I have no problem supporting people whom I agree with if they truly want to win, but I have no interest in supporting a candidate who's goal is anything other than actually winning. Because of his late entry into the race, I was worried that he might not be fully committed.

Accordingly, I was pleased to hear Det say that he isn't in the race to just show up. He told us that he decided to enter the race about a month ago. He said that one of the catalysts to his entering the race was when he and his wife recently watched the HBO series John Adams. Det told us that his wife encouraged him to run for this office because it was his duty to his country to try and make it a better place. Det said that his initial response was "I can give you about eight million reasons why I shouldn't run" but his wife dismissed that objection.

Det said that ultimately, he wants to run not against Senator Graham so much as he wants to run for the things that he personally believes in. He emphasized that he felt it was his duty to run for office.

Getting to those specifics, he led off with the idea that he wants to be a Senator that doesn't live in Washington DC. He said that his life is in South Carolina, and he wouldn't be a Senator who goes up to DC and becomes detached from this State. Without directly saying so, it was clear that he believes Senator Graham has made Washington, DC his home.

This dovetailed into his position that politicians shouldn't be in office for long periods of time, and he endorsed the idea of term-limits. He spoke about Washington's overspending, and the how Congress has continually delegated more and more authority and responsibility to the other two branches of government. He was extremely familiar with the Constitution, referencing it specifically in several instances. It was clear that he would seek to reassert Congress' power at the expense of Executive agencies.

He indicated that he would not have voted to confirm either Justice Sotomayor or Justice Kagan due to their views on abortion and homosexuality, but he acknowledged that they would have been confirmed anyway. However, he made a point to de-emphasize social issues, or at least it seemed that way to me.

It appears that his primary motivation for seeking a seat in the US Senate rests more on economic freedom and lessening the federal government's role in trying to direct private action. He told us about a business owner in Charleston who said he pays more  money complying with government regulations than he pays in taxes as an example of the federal government's heavy hand with economic activity.

On the practical side, his son Wyman is dealing with the logistics of the campaign. Wyman briefly indicated that they are looking to raise $500k by March, and he said that "it was a very attainable goal". They hope to have an official campaign website up and running soon as well. In the meantime, if you want to keep up with him, he is on Twitter. Wyman indicated that it was their goal to reach out to people both in and outside of South Carolina, as a US Senator's vote affects more than just one state.

Overall, Det Bowers struck me as a very humble and authentic man who is running for office because he truly wants to try and make this country a better place for his children and grandchildren. I'll be interested to see how his campaign plays out over the next few months.

I haven't decided where I am on this GOP primary, but I'll certainly be watching all the candidates closely.

Why Newt Won SC

Everyone in the media has been trying to figure out why Newt won South Carolina. They've been grasping for something to explain the surge. For the most part, the main "reason" all the pundits have been fixating on is Newt's attack on "the media".

The John King and Juan Williams fireworks were showy, but I don't think that's what resonated. The media has been contorting themselves into knots trying to square the circle of the "Open Marriage" attack with what they stereotype South Carolina as: evangelical, redneck, parochial dummies.

The media, always so self-fixated, went with the "Newt attacks the media" line to explain the surge. That wasn't what won the primary. What won the primary was Newt's fierce defense and advocacy of the value of work. He very clearly drew the distinction between the Democrats as the party who will give you a hand-out, and the Republicans as the party that's going to find you a job and tell you to work for it.

It's the difference between the dignity of work, earning money from the sweat of your brow - and the person who is always acting as a victim, and looking for an easy path.

"I'm going to continue to find ways to help poor people learn how to get a job, learn how to get a better job, and learn someday to own the job."

That was what resonated. This is America. Most people want to work. Most people want to have the dignity that comes from standing on their own two feet and not take government charity, assistance, or whatever you want to call it. People want to be able to look back and say: I did that.

Newt articulated the argument and drew the distinction clearly, succinctly, and did so with fire. He's the only guy up there with any fire. That plays a role as well. People want their candidate to be fired up.

Also, don't underestimate the frustration that most conservatives have a being told their candidates are stupid, sound like hicks, can't be nuanced, are rednecks, and are just generally hicks. Newt is the guy that Republicans can vote for and be fairly confident that these attacks (attacks they have suffered through for at least 12 years) will not score against Newt. Say what you will about him, he's no dummy, and he doesn't sound like ol' Billy Bob the Cowboy when he speaks. That goes a long way.

We'll see how Florida goes. This thing is a long way from over.

The SC GOP Primary is Upon Us (These are my demands)

During my day today, I've heard three different radio ads (all negative) from either candidates or a PAC, my television has been swamped with political ads since last night. Also, I believe most of the candidates are here, and all the national press is in town. There's so much political activity in the air, you can really almost smell the bullshit.

I'm prepared to be pandered to for the short time that everyone is here. These are my demands:

1. Stop running political ads during sporting events on TV. I watch sports to get away from y'all.
2. Do not call me on the phone. Ever. (If I want to hear from you, I will go to an event).
3. Stop talking about social issues. If you get a question about a social issue, tell the questioner that we have bigger problems to deal with and move on.
4. Quit asking me for money. (I didn't ask you to run for President.)

If any other South Carolinian has demands, feel free to let me know. I'll add the good ones.

Emergency Action Message to GOP

Did Gingrich really just say he would subpoena SCOTUS Justices to have them "explain themselves" to Congress, and that the President and Congress get a "veto" of opinions they don't agree with? It sounds like the "historian" needs to read the Federalist Papers:

Whoever attentively considers the different departments of power must perceive, that, in a government in which they are separated from each other, the judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution; because it will be least in a capacity to annoy or injure them. The Executive not only dispenses the honors, but holds the sword of the community. The legislature not only commands the purse, but prescribes the rules by which the duties and rights of every citizen are to be regulated. The judiciary, on the contrary, has no influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or of the wealth of the society; and can take no active resolution whatever. It may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment; and must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgments.

As far as Jackson ignoring the Supreme Court is concerned: He was wrong to do so, and he later changed his mind on the issue when the politics suited him. Lincoln ignoring Ex parte Merryman  was also wrong in hindsight. Gingrich is saying really stupid sounding things, and the only think I can guess is that he's hoping to win over the "I hate the lawyers" vote. Great.

And Romney is just the guy who says anything he needs to get elected. (Sound familiar?)

Hey GOP, the Iowa caucuses are just around the corner, and you still have some things need to be taken care of.

Don't make me force you to come in to work on a Saturday.

Nikki Haley Endorses Romney

Nikki Haley puts herself on Team Romney. I'm only mildly surprised at this. I didn't see her supporting Perry, and Bachmann, who I think is the natural inclination is too far out of the race. It always helps to support the eventual winner.